Discrete Emission Credit Program
The Discrete Emission Credit program provides a method to generate credit by creating temporary emission reductions throughout the State of Texas.
The Discrete Emission Credit program allows participants to generate credits by creating temporary (i.e., discrete) emission reductions from point, area, and mobile sources. Reductions generated from point and area sources are known as Discrete Emission Reduction Credits (DERC) while reductions from mobile sources are known as Mobile DERCs (MDERC). This program encourages emission reductions and provides participants flexibility in complying with various federal and state air regulations. Participation is completely voluntary.
Program rules are listed under 30 TAC Chapter 101, Subchapter H, Division 4 .
Featured Items
- NEW The EBT team offers Pre-Application meetings for anyone who is interested in generating Emission Reduction Credits (ERC), Discrete Emission Reduction Credits (DERC), or Mobile Source Credits. To request a Pre-Application meeting with EBT, please send an email to ebt@tceq.texas.gov and include the words “Pre-Application Meeting” in the subject line.
- State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System (STEERS) - Submit credit generation applications and trades online.
- Area and Mobile Source Potential Emissions - See the amount of area and mobile source emissions available for credit generation applications.
- Credit and Allowance Registry - Search for sites, companies, projects, portfolios, certificates, etc.
- Credit and Allowance Exchange - Current listing of requests to buy and sell credits and allowances.
- Available Discrete Emission Credits - DERCs and MDERCs currently available in the registry.
Guidance
- Guidance on the Records Needed to Support Emissions Estimation for Area and Mobile Sources to Generate Emission Credits, September 2017
- Locomotive Activity Rates
- Marine Engine Service Life
- Operational Life for On-Road and Non-Road Mobile Sources
- Useful Life for Trucks that are both Combination Short-Haul and Long-Haul
- Guidance on Petitions to Change the List of Inelastic Area Sources For the Purpose of Generating Emissions Credits, September 2017
- Guidance on the Inter-Pollutant Use of Credits for Nonattainment New Source Review Permit Offset Requirements, June 2019
Inter-Pollutant Modeling Example
- Guidance on the Inter-Area Use of Credits for Nonattainment New Source Review Permit Offset Requirements, January 2017
Forms
- State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System (STEERS) must be used to submit credit generation applications and trades online.
- Notice of Intent to Use Discrete Emission Credits (Form DEC-2) in PDF or Word
- Notice of Use of Discrete Emission Credits (Form DEC-3) in PDF or Word
- Submit by August 1 prior to the year of use in the Dallas-Fort Worth nonattainment area (DFW), 45 or 90 days prior to the first day use (dependent upon credit type) in areas other than DFW.
- For compliance with the Mass Emission Cap and Trade (MECT) Program, submit by October 1 in the control period of use.
- Submit within 90 days after each use period. For compliance with the MECT Program, submit by March 31 after the control period of use.
Audits and Summary Reports
- Generation Report - Includes the generator of the credits, amount generated, area of generation, pollutant type, and associated project number.
- Trade Report - List of recent discrete emission credit transfers.
- Use Report - Includes the user of the credits, amount used, area of use, pollutant type, and associated project number.
- 2013 DERC Program Audit - Evaluates the generation, use, availability, and trading of credits and the impact of the DEC program on the state's attainment demonstration.